Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex Imphal-based civil society organisation Wednesday demanded a thorough investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the incident of an IED blast on a bridge in Kangpokpi district.
A bridge on the National Highway 2 in ethnic violence-hit Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was partially damaged in an IED explosion early on Wednesday, disrupting traffic movement in the area, police said.
The blast which took place between Sapermeina and Koubru Leikha along the national highway is a Kuki-Zo community area.
Expressing serious concerns about the incident, the Committee said this reprehensible act (explosion) by suspected Kuki militants amounts to a blatant war crime, given the targeted highways’ critical importance as a lifeline for 3.5 million inhabitants in the region.
It underscored the attackers’ callous disregard for human life and fundamental humanitarian principles. All involved parties, including the KSO executive, must be thoroughly investigated, as they could provide vital information regarding the incident, the media coordinator of the committee said in a statement.
It further noted that the targeted area was within the Christian Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi District in Manipur, India. The Kuki Student body from the region promptly issued a press release condemning the incident.
Regrettably, this bombing isn’t an isolated event. A similar attack occurred in the Kwakta areas of the Churachandpur district border area on June 21, last year. The NIA had previously investigated the incident, leading to the apprehension of several individuals associated with Kuki Narco Terrorist Groups belonging to the Kuki community, the Committee added.
Recalling another recent assault targeting LPG petroleum tankers along the National Highway 37 in the Kaimai area under Tamenglong district, the Committee said the perpetrators, identified themselves as the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), not only injured several drivers, the militant group openly issued threats of further violence, challenging the government authority and Meetei community.
The deceitful tactics employed by purported Kuki groups are deeply troubling, especially their attempts to shift blame onto unrelated entities.
Considering the remote location of the blast site, deeply entrenched within Kuki-controlled territory, it’s implausible for anyone outside the Kuki community to operate in the area.
Moreover, it’s crucial to acknowledge the complex dynamics of the region, characterized by extensive opium cultivation, illegal village expansions, and an influx of undocumented immigrants from Myanmar.
Furthermore, it serves as a hub for Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups, operating under the guise of a suspension of operation agreement with the Government of India, the Committee noted.
